Homily for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

Today, we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul, a Pharisee known as Saul, who became an Apostle of Jesus and is known as Paul. 

As a Pharisee, Saul was well-versed in the events of Jesus' life and death. He understood that Jesus' followers recognized Him as the Messiah and that the Mosaic Law was no longer considered the ultimate authority. Instead, people came to believe that Jesus' life, death, and Resurrection were now part of the final truth. This was deeply troubling for Saul, who focused entirely on the Law.

However, on the road to Damascus, Saul experienced a profound transformation. Instead of viewing Jesus through the eyes of a Pharisee, he began to see Him through the eyes of faith, which completely changed his perspective.

This new understanding allowed him to move past his strict adherence to the Law and recognize Jesus as the Messiah, leading him to become His follower. Additionally, it opened his eyes to the call to preach not only to the Jewish people but also to the Gentiles, who some early Jewish Christians believed should be excluded.

Let us pray that we, too, will recognize Jesus' presence in our lives and respond to the call to share our knowledge and love of God with others.